South-east London neighbourhoods are suffering a shortfall in dedicated community police officers, a new report has revealed.

In December 2017, London Mayor Sadiq Khan announced that

he had "successfully delivered" on a promise to place two dedicated Police Constables

and one dedicated Police Community Support Officer in every London neighbourhood.

However, recently released figures have shown that a number of wards, particularly in SE London, are still without the promised number of community cops.

In Bexley, Belvedere was the only ward to show a deficit with only one dedicated PC assigned to the area.

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Darwin ward in Bromley was the worst affected with only one dedicated PC assigned to the area and no PCSO. Clock House ward is also missing a PC while Plaistow & Sundridge ward has no PCSO.

Lewisham showed a number of gaps in its community police force, with both Whitefoot and Rushney Green wards only having one dedicated PC, while New Cross ward is currently without a PCSO. Evelyn ward also reported as only having one dedicated PC.

A lack of PCSO's in Greenwich was also discovered with both Shooter's Hill and the Middle Park & Sutcliffe wards both without the supporting officers.

Speaking on what she referred to as "significant gaps in community policing", Lib Dem London Assembly member, Caroline Pidgeon said: "Just 18 months ago the Mayor of London was saying how delighted he was that every London ward has two dedicated Police Constables and Police Community Support Officer.

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"The reality is very different indeed in one in ten wards in London.

"The situation may actually be worse because some of these officers are on long term sick leave, maternity leave, or restricted office duties so the reality of patrols on the ground is very different indeed."

"The Mayor has broken a clear pledge he made to Londoners.

In a letter responding to Ms Pidgeon's requests for neighbourhood policing figures, Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Sophie Linden claimed that "damaging" budget cuts are to blame for the shortfall of local bobbies on the beat in some areas.

"The Government has forced the MPS to make savings of £850 million, with a further £263 million worth of cuts still required by 2022-23.

"These cuts are having a real impact, forcing overall officers numbers down from 33,260 in March 2010, to 29,978 in March 2019," she wrote.

However, it was also noted that despite the gaps in staffed community patrols, the data does show that 89 per cent of London wards have two PCs and 92 per cent of wards have one dedicated PCSO.

Issues with the Met's new HR system was also offered as a possible explanation for some gaps in the current figures.